Portable soda fountain



Dec-11, 1956 H. R. RoBBlNs 2,773,681

PORTABLE SODA FOUNTAIN Filed April 29, 1954 United States Patent G2,773,681 n PDRTABLE SODA FOUNTAIN Harold R. Robbins, Des Moines, IowaApplication April 29, 1954, Serial No. 426,404 Claims. (Cl. 261-93) Myinvention relates to apparatus for carbonating water to be used inbeverages and one of the important objects of the invention is toprovide such an apparatus for home use.

Another object of this `invention is to provide apparatus of the aboveclass which embodies novel means for supplying gas from a commerciallyprepared container to a Water tank or box together with means forthoroughly mixing the gas and water.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus asdescribed having associated therewith control means for simultaneouslyputting into operation the mixing device and gas discharging means withsuch control means being designed for selectively regulating theduration of operation of the mixing unit.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained as here-` inafter more fully set forth, specically pointed outin my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of this invention partially broken away tomore fully illustrate its construction,

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing the simple electric circuit employed,and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the punch means for the gascartridge taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings a container for water may be formed from anysuitable material characterized preferably by lightness in weight so. asto be susceptible of easy portability. A filler cap 12 is mounted in thetop central portion of the container and a spigot -14 is placed at thelower central portion of the front side 16 thereof. On the rear side 18of container 10 I have mounted an electric motor 20 by means of suitablebrackets 22 so that the motor shaft 24 extends into the interior ofcontainer 10 and carries a mixing blade 26 on the free end thereof asshown in Fig. 2.

Also on the back side 18 I have provided a transverse opening or hole tothe interior of container 10 which is fitted with a watertight resilientwasher-like member 28 adapted to frictionally receive a capsule orcartridge 30, containing carbon dioxide gas of a type commerciallyavailable for use in making carbonated beverages. Adjacent the positionof cartridge 30 and also on back 18 there is attached a solenoid 32having an arm 34 extending into the interior of container l0 where it isbent or otherwise formed into a U-shape to provide a punch member 36having a pointed end 38 which terminates at a point that will beadjacent the inner end of cartridge 30 when the latter is inserted asdescribed. Punch member 30 is provided with one or more surface grooves40 that extend longitudinally thereon but terminate short of the pointedend 38.

perspective view illustrating a preferred.

A time switch means 42 is mounted to the rear 18 of container 10 and iselectrically connectedv in series as at 44 to the solenoid 30 and motor20 and is designed to connect` to a source of electric power (not shown)by means of plug 46. No invention per se is claimed in motor 20,solenoid 30 or switch 42 and it will be understood that many commercialtypes and forms are available from which suitable models can be`selected to perform the desired functions. Switch 42 should be of thetype which closes circuit 44 when set `and which is designed so that itcan be selectively set to operate for a predetermined time interval,after which circuit 44 willy be opened. Solenoid 30 is of a type inwhich arm 34 is normally yieldingly held in an extended position whennot ener gized, and which whenrenergized will cause arm 34 to' retract.

This apparatus, as thus described and with switch 42, solenoid 30 andmotor 20 electrically connected in series will operate in the followingmanner. Container 10 is first lled substantially with water through thetop opening available byy removing filler cap 12. Cartridge 30 is thenmanually partially inserted into container 10 wherein it will befrictionally held by washer 28 and it will be understood that thiscartridge is of a well known form requiring the end 48 to be puncturedin order to release the gas. In this position, with plug 46 properlyconnected to a source of electric current,.switch 42 is set for theAdesired period of operation. Being connected in series, electrically,motor 20 will commence operation immediately upon setting of switch 42so that blade 26 is agitating the water in container 18 andsimultaneously with this operation, solenoid will be energized so thatthe retraction of arm 34 results in punch 36 puncturing or perforatingthe end 48 of cartridge 30. Solenoid 30 will remain energized untilcircuit 44`is closed by switch 42, and, therefore, to assure the properdischarge of gas from the cartridge 30 into the water in container 18,the groove or grooves 40 in punch 36 have been provided. These grooves,as described do not extend to the point 38 so that the initial contactend of punch 36 has no surface indentations or grooves. However, oncepenetration is accomplished, that part of punch 36 containing thesurface grooves 40 will be resting in the opening in cartridge end 40 toprovide an adequate passageway or passageways for the escape of the gas.As soon as switch 42 has reached the time limit selected, circuit 44will be opened so that motor 20 ceases operation and solenoid 30 returnsto the position shown in Fig. 2. Thereafter, of course, the carbonatedwater thus formed can be withdrawn through spigot 14 as needed formixing with other ingredients for the desired beverage. It should alsobe pointed out that any suitable variable resistance means such as arheostat can be connected to motor 20 for controlling the speed of blade26 without departing from the principle of this invention.

This entire apparatus is designed in an exceedingly compact unit adaptedparticularly for home and individual use as contrasted with commercialuse. It, therefore, may be stored easily in the home refrigerator orused on outings and produces substantially the same result as thatvaccomplished by the larger and more complicated structures of thecommercial variety. Consequently, by virtue of its simple constructionand usability as described a susbtantial savings and economy is affordedthe user in preparing his own soft drinks, for example, since drinkextract in bulk can be purchased at a major savings over the preparedbottled drinks which must otherwise be used.

It is submitted that the invention shown and described is aptly suitedto achieve the purposes intended and is characterized by a combinationof hiqhlv useful and mutually cooperating elements that combine theirrepower, an velectric motor ,connected to said electric circuitfordrivling said agitator means, a cartridge containingrcarbon dioxidegas, said cartridge being of the type requiring puncturing at one end.to release thegas therefrom, said; container provided with an openinginto which said cartridgecan.bemanuallyjpartially inserted so that thepuncturable ,end .thereof extends into -said container, anieleetricallyoperated punch means mountedon said container for puncturing saidcartridge and connected to said electric circuit in'series withsaid'electric motor, and a manual.

lyoperated. switchv means in.saidelectric circuit whereby.-

operation of said punch means and said electric motor can be placedvinto or out of operation simultaneously.

2. Apparatus for-carbonating water, comprising, a container for waterhaving an inlet and valve controlled outlet for the water, anpagitatormeans mounted on said conn tainer so as to extend into the interiorthereof, an electric circuit designed vfor connection Ato aV source ofVelectric power, an electrick motorconnected to said electric circuit fordriving said agitator means, a cartridge containing carbon;dioxide gas,saidcartridge being of the type requiring puncturingat one end torelease the gas therefrom, saidv container provided with an opening intowhich said cartridge can be manually partially inserted so that thepuncturableend thereof extends into said container, an electricallyoperated punch means mounted on said container for puncturing saidcartridge and connected `to said electric` circuit in seriesV with. saidelectric motor, and a manually operated time control switch means insaid .electric cir,v

cuit whereby operationof saidpunch means and said electric motor canbeplaced into or out of yoperation sirnul taneously and can be.maintained in operating status'forv predetermined intervals.:

3. Apparatus for carbonating water, comprising, a conf tainer :for.water having an inlet and valve controlled outlet for. the water, an.agitator. means mounted on said container so as to extend into theinterior thereof, an electric circuit designed-.for connection to asource of electric power, anxelectric-motor connected to saidelectricvcircuit for: drivingy said agitator` means, a cartridgecontaining carbondioxide gas, said. cartridge being of kthe ltype`requirin g puncturing at one end to release thegas therefrom,

said containerprovided with .an opening into which said cartridge can bemanually partially inserted so that they puncturable end thereof extendsinto said container, an electrically operated punchrmeansmounted on saidcontainer-forpuncturingsaid cartridge and connected to saideleetriccircuit in series with. said electric motor, a manually operatedswitch means in said electric circuit whereby operation of said punchmeans -and said electric motor can be placed into or out of operationsimultaneously, a Ypointed end on said punch member, and a surfacegroove in said punch member spaced inwardly from said pointed end.

4. Apparatus for carbonating water, comprising, a container for waterhaving an inlet and valve controlled outlet for the water, an agitatormeans mounted on said container so as to extend into the interiorthereof, an electric circuit designed for connection to a source ofelectric power, an electric motor connected to said electric circuit fordriving said agitator means, a cartridge containing carbontdioxide gas,saidcar-tridge'being of thevtype requiring puncturing at one end torelease the gas therefrom, said container providedwith an opening intowhich said cartridge can be manually partially inserted so that thepuncturable end thereof extends into said container, an electricallyoperated punch means mounted on said container-,for puncturing saidcartridge and connected to said electriccircuit in series with saidelectric motor, a manuale.

1yi operated switchA means in said electric circuit whereby operation ofsaid punch means and said electric motor can be vplaced into. or out ofoperation simultaneously, a pointedendon, said punchmember, and asurface groove. in.

saidpunch member. spaced inwardly from said pointed end; the portion ofsaid. punch member having said groove resting in the openingof saidcartridge formed by they puncturingthereof unt-il saidpunch member iswithdrawn. 5.-Apparatus,.for .carbonating water, comprising, acontainerfor waterfhaving an inlet and. valve controlled outa letfor thewater, an agitator means mounted on said container. so as to. .extendinto the interior thereof, van

electric" circuit designed for connection to a source of electricpower,an electric motor connected to said electric circuit for driving saidagitator means, av cartridge containing, carbon dioxide gas, saidcartridge being of the typerequiringpuncturing atone end-to release thegas therefrom, saidcontainerprovided with an opening into `whichsaid.cartridge-can be manually partially inserted so that A.the.puncturableendthereof extends into said container, a solenoid on saidcontainer connected to said electriccircuit inseries'with ,said electricmotor, an varm formed with a punch member connected to vsaid solenoidsothat saidrpunch. member-is within. said container and disposedin..1ine.wit h .thefpuncturable endof `said cartridge,- said.lpunfchgmember normallyyieldiugly held out of engagement with saidcartridge, said solenoid whenenergized retracting saidarm so. that saidpunch member punctures said cartridgefandrswitch means in said electriccircuit to simultaneously energize or. deenergize Vrespectively -saidelectric motor and .said solenoid.`

ReferencesrCited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 620,963Read Mar. 14, 1899 66,2;'499 Reenstierna Nov. 27, 1900 1,671,368v`Johann May 29, `1928 1,956,788 Blum May 1, 1934 12,073,273` WetsteinMar. 9, 1937V 2,314,984 Hudson Mar. 30, 1943 2,391,003 Bowman D ec. 18,'1945 FOREIGN VPATENTS 403,944 Italy May 14, 1943

